Colts' Ballard out for season with knee injury

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He suffered a likely torn ACL in practice on Thursday

News-Sentinel staff report

Friday, September 13, 2013 - 7:32 pm

Indianapolis Colts running back Vick Ballard will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered in practice.

Ballard suffered the injury in a non-contact move on Thursday, and has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. The Colts announced he will be placed on injured reserve.

“We feel awful for Vick,” Pagano said. “We all know Vick was headed toward having a fabulous year. We know and understand injuries are part of this game. We'll deal with it. Nobody handles adversity quite like this team and this locker room. It's next man up. Vick will get through this. Knowing him and his mindset and his work ethic, he'll come back stronger than ever in 2014.”

Ballard is in his second season with the Colts and was the starting running back. He'll be replaced by veteran Ahmad Bradshaw, who was signed in the offseason. Donald Brown will move from the No.3 back to the backup role. The Colts will likely promote rookie Kerwynn Williams from the practice squad but could possibly sign another running back to replace Ballard.

“We feel like we have two more than capable runners and Kerwynn got a ton of reps in the preseason,” Pagano said. “He understands the plan. We tell all our guys, 'You're one play away.' We ask them all the time to prepare as starters even though you may be a backup, even though you may be on the practice squad. You never know what's going to happen. He's one of those guys that did that.”

The Colts (1-0) play the Miami Dolphins (1-0) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.